Ice making machine



June 16, 1959 F. RlcHELLl 2,890,572

ICB" MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. Faxe/d0 ,e/c//EL L BYMJ/M M ,a

Jane 1s, 1959 F. mCHEL'L. 2,890,572

ICE MAKING MACHINE mm1A neg. s. 195s. z sheets-snm 2 INVENTOR. 52 47 Ffofe/ca ,e/cwELL/ BUQM/M [ice is at present ',pieces.

. A freezing or refrigerating uidis caused through the plates 4alternatively more and less cold acf Unite 'The present invention relates to a machine for producing ice plates or slabs as Well as pieces of ice having. .different shapes and sizes.

As is known, a good deal of the artificially produced used in the shape of more or less small In such a form ice is used to preserve sh, fruits :and vegetables during transit and storage in the cheesefdairies and milk-gathering plantsl (milk central plants), .in the chemical industries for refrigerating mixtures, cold accumulation, juice concentrations, and so on.

Starting from the consideration of these uses, some ice machine manufacturers have followed .the direction to manufacture machines, producing small size ice pieces in which the ice is rapidly formed and delivered in the form yof chips, small tubes, cubes, etc.

These machines have been constructed consisting essentially partly into a vessel containing the water to be frozen, the latter in contact with said cold drum, continuously freezing thereon, and being continuously taken away from it by one or more pressing tools, which comminute it, thus obtaining ice chips.

Other types of machines have been devised for producing ice chips, or ice in larger pieces wherein the ice is produced outside or inside of tubes. Generally speaking, these machines `are rather complex and therefore expensive both from the stand-point of maintenance and operation.

I have devised and built a machine for producing ice in the form of small pieces, but not very small pieces, in industrial amounts, and also vin smaller quantities such as those that are necessary in household use. My

rates Patent of one or more refrigerated drums, turning machine may, by altering its dimensions, be built to.

obtain ice plate or slab production on an industrial scale. This machine is inexpensive to manufacture and will produce ice rapidly at low cost.,

The machine according to the present invention is essentially characterised in that insulated vessel, filled to a constant and adjustable level with water to be frozen with a plurality of groups of freezing plates known per se, disposed within the vessel. to circulate cording to a two step cycle with each plate group being successively frozen for the greater period of the cycle and defrosted during a short time. Auxiliary means are provided for detaching the ice from the plates. The means is prepared for operation during and operated in the defrosting step, and thereafter brought again to its previous position through springurged means. Exchanging means of refrigerating unities are provided between and the vessel bottom.

In other words, the machine for producing plate or n slab ice according to the present invention is based upon the formation lof an ice thickness value on known plates cooled to a low terriperature',l said platesbeng immersed in a vessel containing water.

the entering water to be frozen it comprises a thermally 2,890,572 Patented June 16, 1959 by means of a floating device placed in an auxiliary container.

The feeding water is introduced into the vessel after flowing through a jacket obtained between the vessel bottom and the refrigerating plate support so as to form a heat-exchanger which, on one side pre-coolsthe water entering into the vessel, on the other side prevents the cold from the plates Ito be transmitted to the saine vessel bottom otherwise the accumulation of refrigerating unities would lead to the freezing of the bottom thereby locking the ice extracting device.

One embodiment of the machine for Vproducing ice 'i plates or slabs, according to the present invention, will be hereinafter more fully described, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the machine according to this invention, seen in elevation, in a longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational cross-section of the same machine; 301

*ing in detail one of the controls for the auxiliary means cooperating in the raising and removal of the ice from 'v Figure 3 is a top view on an enlarged scale, showthe freezing plates, after the defrosting step; Y

Figures 4 and 5 area view in elevation and top plane respectively, of one of said detachment-helping or auxiliary means, on an enlarged scale; yand Figure 6 is, on a more enlarged scale, a vertical section of the vessel bottom, corresponding to the symmetry plan of one of said plates. 40.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the machine according to the present invention essentially consists of '-a vessel 1 comprising side walls 2, a suitably shaped cover or lid 3, a composite bottom generally indicated by 4. The entire vessel is thoroughly coated witha layer of thermal insulating material generally indicated by 5. The vessel 1 rests on a frame-work 6 which also supports the electric motor 7 for actuating the machine, and some control members as will be hereinafter described.

Inside the vessel 1 are a plurality of groups of freezing plates 8 which are carried by the bottom 4, with each group being connected to a known distributor 9 for the refrigerating fluid by conduits 47 and cup connectors 49 and which is driven by the motor 7 through a shaft 10 and a speed reducer 11.

"plate 8 group, greater length en A the freezing stepv The distributor is actuated so as to develop, for each a two step cycle having one step of a during which a freezing fluid is vsent to the plates, i.e. a very cold iluid, and another step of a very much shorter length of time during which the plates 8V are fed with a fluid (which may be and preferably is the same) having a slightly higher temperature, with the purpose of obtaining a superficial defrosting of the plates 8.

Each group of plates is fitted with an extracting device, Which essentially consists of a double combed member 12, 12. The parts 12 are connected to each other by arched members 13, between the teeth 14 of which,

plates 8 are placed, in each group. Said extractor is mounted .to be vertically sliding with respect to its own plate' group and its upwardly motion -is guided by rods i. 15 fixed to the vessel bottom 4. Each of said extractors When .the ice action of a spring 28 f) g l marcas .15. areionna1es-- Bushings. 1 6, here Outside pivots 17 on which links 18Yuare pivotally mounted. Said links 18 are in tum pivotally connected to other links 19 which are susceptible to rotateubut not `to translate `on a shaft20 journaled on supporting members 21. .On the other side of each plate 8 there are similar'links 18' endl-9" 1 i At, the outer end 22 of the shaft 20`links 23 are* pivotally mounted, but without the ability to move axially.

On links 23 are pivotally mounted rods 24 which fare driven by their respective cams 25 fastened (together fwith iothervsimilar cams for the other plate groups) to the shaft 10.,A Such cams are suitably angularly shifted with respect to one another according to the number of plategroups provided for the vessel 1.`

In this manner a synchronous operation of the dis- ;tn'butor (and then of the refrigerating lluid steps) is obtained, coordinated with the extracting devices.

s Said links V19v and 23 are at pairs connected bya respective torsional spring 26. At the beginning f their y operation cycle, the extractors are resting as usually on -:the bottom of the vessel 1, and by the ice formationhon the walls 27 of the plate 8, are held on the same bottom 4 of the vessel 1. g c j By. the rotation of the respective `cam 25 the rod 24 .Mis raised andV thereby the link 23 is caused to rotate, but

cannot rotate sincethe respective extractor is heldby the icewhich has formed on the walls 27 of the plates `8,

as. long as thefreezing step lasts. ,Y

In such a manner the spring 26 is charged and is kept under chargeuntil the very short defrostingmstep begins for the plates 8 of the respective group. Afterwards, the

. extractorno longer being firmly held bythe ice, vsnaps up and frees the ice from that group of plates. That is,

during a freezing interval which is the Ygreater portion of a cycle, lwhenrthe colderuid is owing through'the plates .27, the double-comb member 12-127is resting Vin its lowestposition while ice is forming on the plates 27. At a pr edetermined time and for a predetermined interval, uid at a less cold temperature is made to circulate through plates 27 and thereby causega partial defrosting of the ice formations thereon. Simultaneously, cam 25 urges rod 24 upward which rotates crank 23 counterclockwise with respect to Figure l. V Crank 23 is operatively connected to crank 19 by means of torsion spring 26 with rod 18 interconnecting crank 19 to pin 17 of doublecomb member 12 12. V

Initialrotation of crank 23 causes crank 19 to rotate inthe same direction and raise its associated double- ..comb .member,12-,12 until the teeth 14 strike the ice formations. onI plates 27. Further movement of crank 19 ceases but crank 23 continues to rotates and load tor- `sion spring 26. During the time that crank 23 is being rotated a partial defrosting of the ice formation is'tak- Ving place adjacent to plates 27. Some time duringthis interval the energy stored in the torsion spring will be suiicient to overcome the forces holding the ice formationsN to thepplates 27y and at this time the doblefcomb `member `12`- 12 will snap upward under the influence `of torsion' spring 26 with teethl 14 clearing the ice accumulations fromthesurfaces of plates 27. l n

,The liberated pieces of ice will then iloat to the waters vsurface and be removed from the vessel 1 in ay manner to beI hereinafter described. Y

In the operation of the ice making machine asjust erations take place in succession Yfor each group of plates. The raising of each of the rods 24 occurs against`the Y which encircles the respective rod 24, between the abutting points'29` and 30 carried-by the same rod 24 and the framework 6, respectively, so "as `tli`e Ar'd 24 Vwillsuddenly assume its home position.

In order to obtain proper operation of my device, it is of the utmost importance that the individual extractors are not frozen to the bottom 4 of vessel 1 and thereby permanently lock the moving parts of the machine or upset the synchronization of `the various operations. Proper operating conditions are assured by providing the bottom 4 consistiigof 'a metal plate 31, with one or more layers of a packing material, such as two layers or sheets of a rubbery material 32 and 33 (see in detail Figure 6). 'Layers A32, 33 are spaced thereby forming a substantially horizontal jacket 34 wherein the water to be frozen is caused to arrive through the piping 35 provided with a leveladjusting device 36. The upper sheet is pierced at a position 37 far from the inlet 38; similarly some water also flows through the passageways for the rods 15. With such an arrangement, a pre-cooling of "theiwater for'fe'eding the vessel 1 is obtained with the "iiryiimportant result of preventing the cold accumulation at the bottom 4 since in such region the temperature "is"bflw`aysi.kept slightly higher than the temperature in "ihe've'sseu andno'ice forms on the bottom 4. 1n this thev enti-actors are always free' to move in the' predetermined sequence.

H -As"soonas the ice is made free of the plates 8, it 4inov'es Aupwardlybecause of its lower specific gravity in respect to `that'of the water and it is pushed towards the 'outletmbth 39 Y(carried by the lid 3) through the action "of'af shoving device 40 consisting of chains 41 equally jsp'diaprt varies 42 (see in detail Figures 1 and 2). wS'aid 'chains' il'a'reV mounted on shafts 43, 44 and 45 by means of sprocketpinions 46 and the like, also driven ."Asfrnaybeseenin Figure 6, each plate 8 receives (or discharges) 'the 'refrigerating iluid through conduits 47 atthoen'ds 48 to which plates 8 are welded.

V,Coiiduits 47 a're carried by respective cup-shaped tit- "tiiig's' '49 provided with packings 50, each fitting being held in place by a suitable removable stop member 51 pushing don the projection 52. g "Although I have Vhere described preferred embodiment lofmy novel invention, many variations and modifications f willnow" be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I "'there`fore'pre`fer to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

, I-claimr '1. Armachine for producing ice comprising a thermally insulatedtank adapted to contain a predetermined level 50 -of water to be transformed into ice, a plurality of groups of freezing plates,an ejector means associated with each V"of saidA groups of freezing plates; said freezing plates being completely disposed within said tank below said level; `distributing means including separate operative connec- 'ltio`nsto each of'said groups of freezing plates; said oper- "ative connections being adapted tov conduct a circulating uid from said distributing means to said groups of freezing vplates at water freezing temperatures during a first predetermined time interval and at ice defrosting tem- 'peiiatures during ay second predetermined time interval lftherebypermitting formation of ice on each of saidv groups j -freezin'gplatesV during their respective first time inter- 'z 'v;als; saidirs't and/second time intervals for each group 'rfof freezing 'plates occurring in a predetermined sequence 6 'afpr'ed'e'termined instant of time to thereby achieve a H; synchronized mode of'operation between all of said groups f voflkfreez'ing'rplatesj ysaid ejector means being disposed within `--said tnk/and'o'peratively positioned to engage said ice on their respective groups of freezing plates; individual spring means for each of said ejector means; said spring ymegans being, adapted to store energy and release the stored energy during the Vsecond time interval of the associated'fgroup of'freezing'plates to thereby enable said 7:5"associated ejector'means toclear said ice accumulations from the associated group of freezing plates with a snap action.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 also including a water jacket positioned within the tank adjacent to the bottom thereof and a Water circulating means operatively connected to said water jacket; said water circulating means circulating the Water to be frozen through said water jacket before said Water to be frozen enters said tank.

3. A machine for producing ice plates or slabs and pieces of diiferent shape and size comprising a thermally insulated vessel adapted to contain water to be transformed into ice, a distributing means and completely disposed within said tank a plurality of freezing plates and vertically reciprocated ejector means positioned exteriorly of said freezing plates said freezing plates being connected with the distributing means for the passage therethrough of a refrigerating uid at water freezing temperature during a first predetermined interval and at ice defrosting temperature during a second predetermined interval thereby producing ice formations on said plates during said first interval, refrigeration exchangers between the water to be frozen on its entering into the vessel and the bottom of the same vessel whereby said Water is precooled before entering said vessel; said ejector means being positioned at the bottom of said vessel during said first time interval and being moved to a raised position during said second time interval.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ejector means are operatively positioned to engage said ice formations; spring means being provided for storing energy; said ejector means being operatively connected to said spring means and actuable thereby; said spring means releasing energy during said second interval thereby enabling said ejector to periodically clear said ice accumulations from said freezing plates with a snap action.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plurality of freezing plates are arranged in groups; said distributing means including separate operative connections to each of said groups of freezing plates; said operative connections being adapted to conduct said refrigerating fluid from said distributing means to said groups of freezing plates at Water freezing temperatures during said rst predetermined time interval and at ice defrosting temperatures during said second predetermined time interval thereby producing ice formations on each of said groups of freezing plates during their respective first time intervals; said first and second time intervals for each group of freezing plates occurring in a predetermined sequence at a predetermined instant of time to thereby achieve a synchronized mode of operation between all of said groups of freezing plates; said ejector means being disposed within said tank and operatively positioned to engage said ice on their respective groups of freezing plates; individual spring means for each of said ejector means; said spring means being adapted to store energy and release the stored energy during the second time interval of the associated group of freezing plates to thereby enable said associated ejector means to clear said ice accumulations from the associated group of freezing plates with a snap action.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ejector means include comb-shaped members having teeth thereon; said freezing plates being disposed between said comb-shaped members; said teeth being positioned to engage said ice formations.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ejector means are operatively connected to spring means and actuable thereby; said spring means releasing energy during said second interval enabling the said ejectors to periodically clear said ice accumulations from said freezing plates with a snap action.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,212 Wussow Nov. 12, 1940 2,376,819 Rundell May 22, 1945 2,639,594 Watt May 26, 1953 2,683,356 Green July 13, 1954 2,693,680 Lee Nov. 9, 1954 2,695,502 Mufy Nov. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,476 France Mar. 31, 1947 

